A variegated version of sedum with bright cream-gold edged foliage and topped with creamy-white clusters of flowers.

Sedums are one of the highlights of the late summer/autumn border, giving colour and form to garden displays. They are easy to grow in any soil, even poor soils and have a long flowering period from August to October. They come in a myriad of sizes too, from tiny ground hugging varieties to the popular border ones that can reach 50cm or more in height. Sedums rise from the ground every spring with their strong stems that then become smothered in clusters of tiny flowers, each one attracting pollinating insects and butterflies.

Bare root perennials will benefit from a soak in a bucket of cold water for an hour before planting, to ensure that the roots are fully hydrated. Dig a large enough hole to plant the whole root, without damaging it, and incorporate fresh compost with the soil to aid drainage. Using a mychorrhizal plant powder sprinkled onto the roots will help to ensure that good root growth is achieved. The powder contains symbiotic fungi that will help the roots to draw in moisture and increase root spread. This boosts the plants overall and they are quicker to establish and produce more healthy plants.

Plant not too deeply but making sure the roots are covered with compost/soil mixture. The crowns (the tops of the plants) should be 2/3cms below soil level. If you can see a tiny amount of shoot or greenery make sure this is just above ground level. Firm gently in, ensuring there are no air pockets under or around the roots and water the area well. This should be all the moisture they need until you can see the plants are actively growing. Once your plants are 15-20cms in height they can be fed using a multi-purpose feed.

Place a cane or label in the ground next to your bare root perennial just before you cover the roots over so that you know where and what you have planted.

*Do not plant bare perennials if the ground is waterlogged or frozen. If you need to plant when a very cold spell of weather is forecast, cover the area with cardboard or plastic sheeting to keep the worst of the cold out.

Alternatively, a successful way to start off your bare root perennials is to plant up each bare root plant into a pot using fresh compost. Ensure that the pot is large enough for the roots to spread evenly in the pot. Plant not too deeply but making sure the roots are covered with compost. The crowns (the tops of the plants) should be 2/3cms below soil level. Water in well and place a label into each pot. Leave until early spring or once the weather is more clement, when they can be planted into their final flowering positions in the garden border.

Our bare root perennials are available for dispatch during the month of March. If you have also ordered plants for dispatch in March, we will send your bareroots during the same week. Smaller orders are dispatched via Royal Mail 24, larger orders via Parcelforce.

If you have ordered bareroot plants only, we will dispatch your order during week commencing 4th March 2019 or if you order after this date we will dispatch within 3-4 days of ordering - these are sent via Royal Mail 48 or Parcelforce 48.

For more advice and information about bare root plants, please click on the advice tab above.